Help on wiring Kicker CompVR

[Phatmat 10+ year member]

I know that the Kicker CompVR is a dual 2 Ohm voice coil. So my wiring options are either 1Ohm or 4Ohms when bridged. Though, I can get a 2 channel amp, with each channel at 190W RMS @ 2 Ohm and 125 W RMS @ 4 Ohm. My other option for an amp is a mono block, 500w RMS at 2 Ohm and 300w RMS at 4 Ohm.

I'm wondering, since the CVR is a dual 2 ohm at 400w RMS, does this mean each coil is 2 Ohms @ 200w RMS? So would you recommend that I run the dual voice coil sub with a dual or bridged connection? e.g. 300w 4 Ohm bridged or 190w @ 2Ohm x 2?

Also, if anyone knows, why don't many people (maybe it's just people I know) run their subs at 2Ohms, why do most run at 4Ohms even though there is less power into the sub? Is there less frequency response or something?

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[19992wdtaco 10+ year member]

The 125x2 @ 4 ohm and 190x2 @ 2 ohm would be the stereo rating using 2 channels of a 2 channel amp. That would be to run the main speakers. To power a sub with a 2 channel amp you look for the power rating when in "bridged" mode, which is turning a 2 channel amp into a 1 channel amp.

Your options are to use a 2 channel amp and "bridge" it to 4 ohms or get a mono 1 channel amp that does the power you want into a 1 ohm load.

 

[02gixxersix 10+ year member]

I would get a mono amp stable to 1 ohm. Also many many people do run their setups at 2 ohms. As for your question about why to run your setup with your subs wired to 4 ohms there are a few reason. First your amp may match your sub when wired to 4 ohms. Second, if you have a sub that is D2 like yours and you don't have an amp that is 1 ohm stable, 4 phms is your only option. Third is that there is less current draw at the same power with a higher impedence which means less strain on your electrical system.

 

[Phatmat 10+ year member]

So if I was to buy the Kicker CVR with a dual 4Ohm voice coil, and wire it to run at 2Ohms, I would be better off? The amp I'm going to use is 500wRMS at 2Ohms, so technically since I'm not maxing out the amp the sound quality should be better than maxing the amp at 300wRMS with 4Ohms?

Just to clarify, the only benefit of 4Ohm compared to 2Ohm is less power consumption? There is no bass/quality difference?

 

[DonH 5,000+ posts]

So if I was to buy the Kicker CVR with a dual 4Ohm voice coil, and wire it to run at 2Ohms, I would be better off? The amp I'm going to use is 500wRMS at 2Ohms, so technically since I'm not maxing out the amp the sound quality should be better than maxing the amp at 300wRMS with 4Ohms?
Just to clarify, the only benefit of 4Ohm compared to 2Ohm is less power consumption? There is no bass/quality difference?

first, Ohm is the measure of The measure of resistance in a circuit to the flow of an electric current. The greater the ohm value the more difficult it is for current to flow through a given circuit. Conversely, a low ohm value represents a low resistance and the easy flow of current through a circuit.

now There is a trade off though, the lower the impedance (ohms) the more power is pushed as well as higher distortion and more heat is generated. The excessive heat will shorten the life of the amp depending on how well built and how the settings are.